Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for controlling liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a mode controller that controls execution of a first mode in which an operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at first pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at second pressure by the depressurizing mechanism and execution of a second mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at third pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at fourth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism. To switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller gradually changes, from the first pressure to the third pressure, pressure at which the pressurization operation is performed by the pressurizing mechanism, and gradually changes, from the second pressure to the fourth pressure, pressure at which the depressurization operation is performed by the depressurizing mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a liquid ejecting head that includes a plurality of individual flow paths including respective pressure chambers communicating with nozzles for ejecting liquid, a first common flow path commonly coupled to one ends of the plurality of individual flow paths, and a second common flow path commonly coupled to the other ends of the plurality of individual flow paths;   a pressurizing mechanism that performs a pressurization operation for supplying the liquid to the first common flow path;   a depressurizing mechanism that performs a depressurization operation for discharging the liquid from the second common flow path; and   a mode controller that controls execution of a plurality of modes including a first mode in which an operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at first pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at second pressure by the depressurizing mechanism and a second mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at third pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at fourth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism, wherein   to switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller gradually changes, from the first pressure to the third pressure, pressure at which the pressurization operation is performed by the pressurizing mechanism, and gradually changes, from the second pressure to the fourth pressure, pressure at which the depressurization operation is performed by the depressurizing mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first mode and the second mode are executed in a state in which an inside of the liquid ejecting head is filled with the liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the plurality of modes include   a third mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at fifth pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at sixth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism, and   a fourth mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at seventh pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at eighth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism,   the third mode and the fourth mode start to be executed in a state in which the inside of the liquid ejecting head is not filled with the liquid, and   to switch from the execution of the third mode to the execution of the fourth mode, the mode controller instantaneously changes, from the fifth pressure to the seventh pressure, the pressure at which the pressurization operation is performed by the pressurizing mechanism, and instantaneously changes, from the sixth pressure to the eighth pressure, the pressure at which the depressurization operation is performed by the depressurizing mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a difference between the first pressure and the third pressure is greater than 10 kPa, and   a difference between the second pressure and the fourth pressure is greater than 10 kPa.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the plurality of modes include   a fifth mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at ninth pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at tenth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism, and   a sixth mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at eleventh pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at twelfth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism,   a difference between the ninth pressure and the eleventh pressure is less than 10 kPa,   a difference between the tenth pressure and the twelfth pressure is less than 10 kPa, and   to switch from the execution of the fifth mode to the execution of the sixth mode, the mode controller instantaneously changes, from the ninth pressure to the eleventh pressure, the pressure at which the pressurization operation is performed by the pressurizing mechanism, and instantaneously changes, from the tenth pressure to the twelfth pressure, the pressure at which the depressurization operation is performed by the depressurizing mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first mode is an air bubble discharge operation for discharging an air bubble within the liquid ejecting head,   the second mode is a printing operation for performing printing by ejecting the liquid from the liquid ejecting head, and   the third pressure is lower than the first pressure, the fourth pressure is higher than the second pressure.   
     
     
         7 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first mode is a standby operation for standing by in a state in which an inside of the liquid ejecting head is filled with the liquid,   the second mode is an air bubble discharge operation for discharging an air bubble within the liquid ejecting head,   the third pressure is higher than the first pressure, and   the fourth pressure is lower than the second pressure.   
     
     
         8 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first detector that detects pressure between the pressurizing mechanism and the liquid ejecting head; and   a second detector that detects pressure between the depressurizing mechanism and the liquid ejecting head, wherein   to switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller executes pressurization control to control driving of the pressurizing mechanism using first target pressure as a target value over a time period until the result of the detection by the first detector reaches the first target pressure that is pressure between the first pressure and the third pressure, and to control the driving of the pressurizing mechanism using second target pressure as a target value over a time period after the result of the detection by the first detector reaches the first target pressure and until the result of the detection by the first detector reaches the second target pressure that is pressure between the first target pressure and the third pressure, and the mode controller executes depressurization control to control driving of the depressurizing mechanism using third target pressure as a target value over a time period until the result of the detection by the second detector reaches the third target pressure that is pressure between the second pressure and the fourth pressure, and to control the driving of the depressurizing mechanism using fourth target pressure as a target value over a time period after the result of the detection by the second detector reaches the third target pressure and until the result of the detection by the second detector reaches the fourth target pressure that is pressure between the third target pressure and the fourth pressure.   
     
     
         9 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 to switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller executes the pressurization control based on the result of the detection by the first detector, the result of the detection by the second detector, the first target pressure, and the second target pressure, and executes the depressurization control based on the result of the detection by the first detector, the result of the detection by the second detector, the third target pressure, and the fourth target pressure.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 to switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller controls the pressurization operation by the pressurizing mechanism and the depressurization operation by the depressurizing mechanism such that pressure in the individual flow paths in a vicinity of the nozzles is negative.   
     
     
         11 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 to switch from the execution of the first mode to the execution of the second mode, the mode controller controls the pressurization operation by the pressurizing mechanism and the depressurization operation by the depressurizing mechanism such that pressure in the individual flow paths in a vicinity of the nozzles is not negative to such an extent that meniscus is broken.   
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that includes a plurality of individual flow paths including respective pressure chambers communicating with nozzles for ejecting liquid, a first common flow path commonly coupled to one ends of the plurality of individual flow paths, and a second common flow path commonly coupled to the other ends of the plurality of individual flow paths, a pressurizing mechanism that performs a pressurization operation for supplying the liquid to the first common flow path, and a depressurizing mechanism that performs a depressurization operation for discharging the liquid from the second common flow path, the method comprising:
 executing a first mode in which an operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at first pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at second pressure by the depressurizing mechanism;   after executing the first mode, executing inter-mode pressure control to gradually change, from the first pressure to third pressure, pressure at which the pressurization operation is performed by the pressurizing mechanism, and gradually change, from the second pressure to fourth pressure, pressure at which the depressurization operation is performed by the depressurizing mechanism; and   after executing the inter-mode pressure control, executing a second mode in which the operation of the liquid ejecting head is controlled under pressurization at the third pressure by the pressurizing mechanism and depressurization at the fourth pressure by the depressurizing mechanism.